SECURITY
Digital editor Tom Newcombe compiles the latest news from
www.buyingbusinesstravel.com
Traveller tracking: the legal view
AIRPORTS Paul Griffiths
Dubai airport chief slams UK politicians on transport policy
THE CHIEF EXECUTIVE OF DUBAI AIRPORTS has blasted the British political establishment for blocking airport expan- sion over the past two decades. London-born Paul Griffiths lambasted political parties for holding back economic growth that would come from building new runways and increasing capacity at major airports in the south east of England. The former managing director of Gatwick airport predicted the Airports Commis- sion’s soon-to-be-published recommendations would be ignored by policy brokers in Westminster. Responding to a question from BBT during a press con-
ference at the SITA airline IT summit in Brussels, Griffiths said: “If a country wants its GDP to benefit from interna- tional transport infrastructure it has to be taken seriously.” He said that over many years “every white paper and initia- tive on the topic [of airport expansion] has been backed by economists but eventually thrown out by government. Unless we can remove the issue from the four-year political cycle, nothing will ever happen.”
Griffiths does not expect construction to take place at either of the airports being studied by Sir Howard Davies – a sentiment that echoes that of IAG chief Willie Walsh, who has stated that Westminster politicians lack the courage to follow through on airport expansion. Griffiths told the conference he believes Heathrow has the strongest case. “The main confluence of motorway is west of London and Crossrail will soon be operational,” he said. “The demand for connecting traffic is far greater at Heathrow.”
6 BBT JULY/AUGUST 2015
COMPANIES CAN TRACK THEIR EMPLOYEES when they are travelling for business as long as they “objectively justify it”, according to a legal expert. Speaking at a travel seminar organised by Concur, Shoosmiths employment lawyer Louise Randall said employers have to make it clear to their staff why they want to track them on work trips. “You should explain to employees why you are doing it – is it because you’re responsible for health and safety, or do you want to know that they’re in the place they should be? There’s a balance between this and data protection.” Randall said it was also vital for firms to educate staff on their policies and procedures. “It’s not good enough just to put them on the company intranet,” she said. “Make sure employees are aware of these policies and procedures, and are taking responsibility for following them. You have to help them to know where the line is and what you expect them to do.” • See BBT Forum on risk management, p14
AIRLINES
US AIRLINES UNITE IN OPEN SKIES DEBATE
THE ‘BIG THREE’ US CARRIERS have formed a coalition to “restore a level playing field” under the Open Skies Agreement, which they claim is weighted in favour of the Gulf airlines.
The Partnership for Open and Fair Skies, a coalition of United, Delta, American Airlines and several unions, is calling on the US government to “address the flow of subsidised Gulf carrier capacity to the States”. It is also seeking a temporary block on Qatar Airways’, Etihad’s and Emirates’ new US-bound services.
Etihad has urged the US
government to keep the Open Skies Agreement, submitting a response emphasising how Open Skies benefits the US economy. CEO James Hogan cited an Oxford Economics report showing that Etihad “will support 23,400 American jobs this year, and almost double that number by 2020”. The three US airlines claim their Gulf competitors have received more than US$40 billion in government subsidies since 2004. • See feature, p56
If we can not find a settlement to this issue, we will exit
Qatar Airways CEO Akbar Al Baker at the Paris Air Show (on leaving Oneworld if the Open Skies dispute is not resolved)
BUYINGBUSINESSTRAVEL.COM
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